Update: Autopsy set for human remains found in Van Duzen River

An autopsy on the human remains found in a river west of Dinsmore off State Route 36 is scheduled for this weekend, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Lt. Wayne Hanson said Monday.

Hanson said two hikers found the remains around 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the south fork of the Van Duzen River.

"Because of the drought, the water level is extremely low," Hanson said. "A medical doctor and anthropologist will work with the Humboldt County Coroner's Office to determine the sex, age and nationality of the body. The investigation is still in the preliminary stages. There are no identifying marks on the body."

Hanson said there are several reasons why the body may have been in the water, including: suicide, an accident or homicide.

"Right now, we have no idea how it ended up there," Hanson said. "It takes a while asking for the public's help, if they have any knowledge of someone missing who hasn't been reported absent. The coroner is in charge of identification — comparing dental records with any people reported missing in Humboldt County, then checking other databases. Our detectives are working to supply missing person-type information."

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to call the office at 445-7251 or the office's crime tip line at 268-2539.